House passes roads, domestic violence bills Gov. Haley has threatened to veto roads bill THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2015
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SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894 2 SECTIONS, 22 PAGES | VOL. 120, NO. 154
BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com After returning from break Tuesday, the South Carolina House of Representatives quickly passed a domestic violence bill and on Wednesday passed a roads bill that would generate more than $400 million in additional annual revenue for roads and bridges The bill, which passed
87-20, would have drivers pay 10 cents more per gallon of gas and would offset the increase by giving taxpayers a $48 savings on their personal income tax. Gov. Nikki Haley has threatened to veto the bill because she’s looking for a larger tax break. “These are the priority projects that the Speaker of the House (Jay Lucas, R-Darlington) wanted us
to move forward on,” said Rep. David Weeks, D-Sumter. “We decided we were going to deal with it (the domestic violence bill) ... until we got it done,” he said. “There weren’t but about six or seven amendments which is unusual for a bill of this magnitude.” Lucas released a statement after the House passed H-3433, the Domestic Violence Reform
Act, saying the legislation would “put in place significant provisions to protect South Carolinians from domestic abuse. “Far too many South Carolinians have tragically lost their lives as a result of domestic violence,” Lucas said. “We have an obligation to protect every citizen by passing laws that will
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Local students excel at SCISA science fair Clarendon marks National Child Abuse Prevention month Candlelight vigil and balloon release A8 ENTERTAINMENT
Gospel Truth Trio to perform in Sumter A13 DEATHS, B4 Norris Thomas Shirley Gray Rush Martin L. Holman Eliza H. McFadden Evoin L. Williams
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Wyatt Welch, a Robert E. Lee Academy student, explains his science fair project to judge Mary Margaret McCaskill during the SCISA State Science Fair at the Sumter County Civic Center on Wednesday. Wyatt was trying to prove that a cricket’s chirping can determine a change in temperature.
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More than 160 students from 25 schools presented 180 projects
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BY ADRIENNE SARVIS Adrienne@theitem.com The main floor of the Sumter County Civic Center was filled with 180 science projects from 162 students representing 25 elementary, middle and high schools during the South Carolina Independent School Association’s 2015 State Science Fair on Wednesday morning. Founded in 1965, SCISA is an accrediting organization for independent, private and church-affiliated schools throughout the state and a few schools in Georgia. Lyndi Bonnette, SCISA activities
director, said she was excited to see all of the students presenting during the science fair. She said SCISA hosts many athletic events at the Sumter County Civic Center throughout the year and plans to return to Sumter for more academic events in the future. Professors from local higher education institutions such as USC Sumter and Central Carolina Technical College judged the projects based on scientific thought, creative ability, technical skill, clarity, thoroughness and oral explanation. Projects were classified as either
Panel OKs bill requiring bodycams for all officers COLUMBIA (AP) — Legislation requiring all South Carolina police officers to wear body cameras was approved Wednesday by a Senate subcommittee after the fatal shooting of an unarmed black driver by a white North Charleston police officer added new urgency to the proposal. Under the bill’s language, every officer would have to have a camera less than a year after the proposal becomes law. But questions remain about how to pay for the cameras, the massive amount of data storage and the training. Legislative officials estimate it would cost $21 million in the first year, but senators said that’s just an educated guess and it could easily be more. They also gave no details on how they will pay for the cameras beyond asking the
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
North Charleston Police Chief Eddie Driggers observes a moment of prayer during a service at Charity Missionary Baptist Church after the death of Walter Scott, the black driver who was fatally shot by a white police officer after he SEE PANEL, PAGE A5 fled a traffic stop April 12 in North Charleston.
general science, biological science, physical science, environmental science, team projects, behavioral science and computer/math science. First-, second- and third-place winners were chosen from among entries from each elementary, third through fifth grades; junior high school, sixth through eighth grades; and high school, ninth through 12 grad. And one overall winner was chosen from the three divisions. Alexandra Vincent, a fifth-grade student from Thomas Sumter
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Machinists may withdraw request for S.C. Boeing vote CHARLESTON — The Machinists union is considering withdrawing its request to hold a union vote next week for production workers at Boeing’s manufacturing operations in North Charleston where the aeronautics giant has a 787 Dreamliner assembly plant. Union spokesman Frank Larkin said Wednesday any decision would be “based on the results of the house polling effort that is currently underway to determine levels of support.” He said no decision has
been made but “it is something being considered.” He said there is no timetable for a decision. The Machinists petitioned the National Labor Relations Board last month to hold an April 21 election. Almost 3,200 of the approximately 7,500 Boeing workers in South Carolina are eligible to vote. South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, strongly opposes unions and has been urging workers to vote no. North
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